In 2013, I wrote, “The 3 Most Common Mistakes Newbies Make in Internet Marketing” that discussed beginner mistakes and how to avoid them. I explained how a starter entrepreneur could make some simple adjustments to establish an online presence; however, veteran marketers make mistakes that can sabotage their online endeavors, too.
“The Definition of Insanity Is Doing the Same Things Repeatedly and Expecting Different Results.”
The Unavoidable Truth
It took me getting sick with pneumonia to realize what I was missing in my online business. I whole-heartedly believe that YOU can’t stay on the top rung of success if you’re making the same blunders.
It’s no fun being sick, but implementing a few simple changes to your business dealings will ensure that you continue to earn money whether you’re sitting at your desk or bedridden with the flu.
Assess the following mistakes I’ve made in my business. Be honest whether or not they describe you, and if you need to make revisions to your online business practices.
Mistake #1: No Timeline for Product Development
Have you been engulfed by the affiliate marketing bug that you’ve forgotten to establish a product development schedule? Affiliate marketing is a handy way to make quick sales, but when you’re ill and unable to send out promotions, sales can come to a trickle or even stop altogether.
Newbies make the mistake of never becoming a product creator, but veteran entrepreneurs fall into the trap of being “one hit wonders” too. They generate one unique product but continually fail to add new products to their sales funnel. Don’t be like them!
Periodically survey your audience and find out what they need, and then create new products by following a monthly timetable. Don’t just sit around twiddling your thumbs. Product development is essential to building your profits, affiliate system, and customer bank.
Mistake #2: No Automated Marketing
I learned the hard way that it was imperative to automate online marketing strategies. When your health takes a turn for the worse, how much money do you make if you aren’t actively sending out promotions? The answer is zilch!
If you need to be at your desk to turn a profit, then it’s safe to assume that you haven’t automated your marketing. It’s time to get your ass in gear! No more excuses! Add a new promotion to your Aweber account, every day, or hire a freelancer. Either way, get it done!
Mistake #3: No Willingness to Change
The definition of insanity is doing the same things repeatedly and expecting different results. I realize that you may be resistant to change. At the beginning of my business, I was too. But if you want your brand to grow, you must be willing to let go of the processes that no longer work.
No matter what type of business you operate, change is inevitable. The difference is how you react to these changes. Will you hold on to doing things the old way or are you willing to step out of your comfort zone and grow as a leader?
One of the attractions of working at home is the vision of freedom it invokes. No time clock, no boss hanging over your shoulder, and no one to answer to for how you spend your time. Yes, it sounds all peachy keen, but like so many attractive offers, there is a downside too.
Being the boss and making catastrophic mistakes can hinder your chances of future success. Consider creating a product development timeline and automate your marketing strategies. Doing so will ensure future growth as a business leader and keeps money flowing in when you’re unable to work!
It’s decision time. What’s your next move? Leave a comment below and let me know!
Thanks for reading,
– Bonnie
P.S. Did you enjoy this message? If so, please share it with your friends so they can benefit from schmoozing. Then, if you want to get more messages like this one, connect with me via my social links below or hop aboard my notification list. I would like to keep in touch.
Bonnie, I am back for reading your article again. It was wonderful tips about business marketing mistakes. Well, I feel during this week I have read a lot about mistakes tips, and not a successful business. LOL.
However, sometime mistakes teach as a lot about how to success. It is one of reflect to what we did in the past and how to correct for better performance next time.
Well, lacking of product development is really big mistake of online business success. I mean that we don’t spend the time for value our products. So, nobody will value it.
Another important you have mention is about email marketing. That for sure, it is one of most important marketing tool that help us to generate sales online.
You know..? According the research over %70 of buyers is return visitors. So, to ask the people to optin mailing and communicate with them is great ways for selling.
One last valuable, and the secret key of success you have provided is change. Everything need the word “Change” for better.
I found a quote on CopyBlogger, He said that “Stop changing of your business, mean stop running your business”. So, to learn about the current performance and analyse the process and adapt for better.
Thanks for sharing..
Hi Kimsea,
With all the bad information floating around the web, it’s easy to overlook the most common mistakes that people make.
Its’ true what you read at Copyblogger. You must analyze how your blog and business are doing and make the changes necessary to keep both working in tip-top condition.
– Bonnie
*Hey, Bonnie – am pasting in my comment from before because I think it slipped through the Internet crack! LOL
Hi, Bonnie,
Love that quote by Einstein! Used it for my business makeover post. It’s a great reminder to continually be pushing myself out of my comfort zone, that’s for sure.
You’ve certainly had a rough several months, my friend, and I hope you’re on a smoother path from now on.
Awesome tips for steering clear of making these mistakes. I have wanted to avoid a big product launch and have a few things in the pipeline, but not fully developed yet.
Actually I just took a friend up on an offer for collaborative
help in this to get it done quickly. Love the sound of that. 🙂
Love your emphasis on honesty because so many entrepreneurs don’t really know themselves and the reasons for their procrastination, etc., which when we tune to, make a huge difference in us getting important things done.
For me, automated marketing means more than a professional autoresponder, that’s why I switched to ActiveCampaign. I want to understand, grow and implement in this concept of delivering the right message, to the right customer at the right time. Lots to learn, but I’m doing it.
Ah, that covered mistake #3 too… LOL
Awesome article, Bonnie! So glad you’re doing better, and back at it. Did you see I featured your PLR Productions on my Recommended Resources page?
Have a blessed day.
˜Carol
Hi Carol,
The quote by Einstein is a wonderful reminder that just a simple change could make all the difference in the world. I wish many more wanna-be entrepreneurs would take it to heart.
I believe I am on the mend, for more than just the recent bout with pneumonia. I’m taking the dog for more walks, and it also helps me feel better too. Let’s hope the unhealthy days are behind me.
What’s the reason you haven’t done a big product launch? Are you sure it’s because the product isn’t fully developed yet, or could it be that you’re purposely dragging your feet? Is there fear involved?
Good luck with your collaborative efforts. If you ever want to collaborate on a product, let me know. 🙂
In time, I may switch to ActiveCampaign, but for now I want to get other parts of my business in order before I switch my autoresponder service. Like you, I want to serve my customers what they need most at a time when they need it. I can do that right now with surveys, but there will come a time when I will need to do it automatically, too.
No, I didn’t realize you had my PLR website on your recommendations page. Thank you so much, Carol! I need to add your PLR website to my resources too, but first I need to sign up to be an affiliate. 🙂 Not sure, but I don’t think I did that yet.
Have a great night!
– Bonnie
Hey, Bonnie! You maka me laffa! LOL
I’m in the process of creating a product, and will let you know when it’s ready.
Nope, no fear involved, although I was fearful of starting my MasterMind Coaching community back when it was just an idea. 😉
The model of constantly running product launches is exhausting and results don’t last.
I’m a much bigger proponent of the recurring membership model, than single one-off ‘one and done’ type launches. A recurring model is building up equity and something you can build and grow and an asset that will keep on working for you.
I will be putting a product on the market, but it’s not my favorite way of giving value, that’s for sure. 🙂
Hope to clarify. Okay, will remember that, Bonnie, thanks.
Talk soon,
˜Carol
Hi Carol,
How did you get over the fear of starting your Mastermind Coaching services? BTW: I updated the post to point to your coaching page. I hope it gives you more customers.
I like the idea of a recurring model too, but I haven’t created one of those yet, but I am seriously thinking about it. However, I would prefer the recurring model that didn’t need me to be present for it to work. LOL
If putting a product on the market is not your normal way of doing things, why are you doing it?
Thanks for getting back to me, Carol. I appreciate it.
= Bonnie
Hi, Bonnie,
That was very sweet of you, Bonnie, thanks for that. Totally unexpected!
Well, getting over the fear for me was accomplished because I have several high earning friends telling me I was definitely ready, so that really boosted my confidence.
Not everyone wants to be part of a Club membership, so the one-off product is something that I needed to take a look at in order to provide value to folks who want a part of my training without the ongoing aspect. Makes sense.
🙂
˜Carol
Hi Carol,
That certainly makes total sense to me. I can’t wait to see what you’ve got brewing! 🙂
– Bonnie
Hey Bonnie,
That hit me right on the forehead. Especially with mistake #1. I have not created any new product recently 🙂 Even though I have a couple of e-books, it is about time I update them. And also add new products to my income stream.
Affiliate marketing is a great way to make money – no questions. But having a product of my own helps establish my brand and authority, not to mention the steady stream of income that I set up!
Willingness to change is very crucial in the blogging business. Things change on a consistent basis (change is the only thing that doesn’t change). So we have to be prepared to change our perspective accordingly.
It is important that we keep tabs on the important updates, happenings etc. in the industry so we can implement different approaches accordingly.
In my earlier days of blogging, I was insane – I used to expect different results (improved results) while I did nothing different 🙂
Thanks so much for compiling these three mistakes 🙂 A real eye-opening post 🙂
Have a great weekend!
Cheers,
Jane.
Hi Jane,
I’m right there with you, Jane. I wanted to be transparent with you so that you know if you’re following in my footsteps and need to step up your game. It sounds as if you do. We can keep each other accountable now, too! 🙂
Ideas are plentiful here on this end. The problem is that I start way too many projects at once, which prevents me from getting SOMETHING, anything done! That trait is about to stop with me.
It’s essential to establish and maintain our brand, and our finished personal products bring in constant cash flow without the need for us to continually review a new affiliate product! Nor do we need to pound on the keyboard with marketing strategies to make a sale.
As leaders, we must read and constantly add to our knowledge banks so that we can pass important information to our followers. After all, we want our fans to learn more from us than from other people when they visit.
Don’t beat yourself up. Most bloggers fall into the trap of doing the same things repeatedly and expecting different results. However, once you realize you’ve fallen into this mindset, it’s a matter of learning from your mistakes.
Thanks for stopping by and have a relaxing weekend!
– Bonnie
Hi, Bonnie, thanks for this wake-up call. First off I hope the pneumonia’s sorted out and you’re back in top form.
There are so many more options nowadays for automation I really don’t have any excuses for not taking more advantage of it. I do intend to… You’ve made it clear that it’s important so I’ll get down to it!
That definition of insanity is spot on. It’s so easy to repeat the same old thing, I do tweak things a lot but sometimes it needs a bigger shift. I’m going to look again at what I’m doing and see what I can do differently.
Thanks for the push!
Hi Donald,
I am feeling much better today, and my bout with pneumonia is a thing of the past. Thank goodness! 🙂
That’s right. Don’t wait until you’re bedridden like I was before you realize that automated marketing strategies HELPS you create income with very little effort on your part after the work is complete.
What are you currently doing online to create income? Do you need help in this area? How long have you been trying to create a name for yourself?
If there is anything I can help you with, please don’t hesitate to ask!
Have a great weekend and I hope to see you back on the blog again!
– Bonnie
P.S. Thank you for liking my Facebook page, too! 🙂
By the way, Donald:
See my post, “How to Create a Gravatar.”
Having a picture of your face next to blog comments will help my community get to know you! And, if people are going to get to know, like and trust you, and eventually buy your products, a picture helps build rapport with your customers and prospects!
Hi, Bonnie, thanks for pointing this out, I’ve just had the same gravatar issue over at Adrienne Smith’s site. I think it’s because I replied using my WordPress.com account which rarely sees the light of day, but now it’s got an avatar 🙂
Hi Donald,
I’m glad to hear you have a Gravatar. When you have time, you may want to exchange the image with a facial shot. If it is your hope to have an online business, it’s imperative that you associate your online business with your face and not just an image or logo.
People buy from people. People create relationships with people. Always remember that. 🙂
– Bonnie
Hi, Bonnie, this is something I’ve been thinking about. I do have my photo on each page of my blog and the About page but I like the little circle logo too!
I’m planning to feature the logo more on my blog and put my photo on social media sites (though not in the gravatar). Does that sound a good setup or would you still say ‘photo everywhere’?
Hi Donald,
It’s great you like your circle logo, but it doesn’t represent you. Your face is the only thing that can represent you. It’s what customers and prospects come to know.
I can’t make you do something you don’t want, but look at all the high profile people such as Armand Morin, Tiffany Lambert, Carol Amato and Adrienne Smith. They use a photo (and not a logo) with everything they do online. Ever wonder why? 🙂
Placing your photo on social media websites is a great start, but it should be on every comment you leave behind on other blogs, too. That’s where you’re going to build relationships the most.
While social media helps, you want to take the relationships built on Twitter, Facebook and Google Plus back to your blog. Again, where you have your picture showing front and center.
I’ll say it again – “It’s imperative to associate your online business with your face and not with an image or logo.” People buy from people. They build a relationship with a person – not a logo. 🙂
– Bonnie
Hi Bonnie – I’ll second for the timeline requirement.
As a project manager, having a timeline is essential to the development of any new project or product for that matter. Without one, you will fail!
You need a pipleline of products that you intend to develop, as well as a timeframe that you intend to develop them. Once you have this in place, you need a detail schedule to march to in order to create that product. Waiting until the last minute to realize your behind on something isn’t going to cut it in today’s business world.
All great points, and sorry that it took me a bit to get over here and comment.
Have a great week Bonnie.
Craig
Hi Craig,
My apologies for not commenting sooner. I let some comments sit idle for far too long, and I’m sorry.
I still need to develop a timeframe for developing future products. I’m putting other things first, and I know that’s not a good thing.
I operate a PLR store, and I have so many requests from customers to keep adding smaller content, but I also know there are bigger projects that await my attention. I hired someone to help me with one of them, but there are so many more floating in my head.
Do you have any suggestions other than sitting down and creating the list of products to finish? Is there something you can share with my readers, so they understand the importance of not putting things off?
Thanks, Craig! Have a blessed week.
– Bonnie
Well, I can try to put things in perseptive related to how we manage “release cycles” in my day job.
We have something called an Enhancement Program, where we are continously evolving some of the basic funcionality of an application. Rather than rolling out changes in an ad-hoc fashion, we’ve defined a series or “releases” throughout the year. Each release has a planned deployment date, typically on a quarerly cycle. We also maintain a “pipeline” of enhancements that the business wants for this application.
The challenge is there is only so much time between releases, and each enhancement has some predefined load of work. So there’s only so much we can do in each release. At the start of the year we sit down with the business, after we have some basic estimates of the work in the pipeline. The business and IT prioritize the work in the pipeline, and IT determines (based upon the priorities and estimates) what work can fit into each release.
So, you could easily take the same sort of approach with products you are developing for your business. Your pipeline is the set of products you want to develop. Your releases are how often you want to rollout these new products throughout the year. Define the priority for each product and how much work each product will take, and your output will be the schedule for your product(s) deployment.
Sorry about the long winded response (but you asked) 🙂 I think you just gave me a great idea for a new post. By all means let me know if you have any other questions.
Hi Craig,
Your Enhanced Program sounds similar to what game developers do when they want to release new game content to their customers throughout the year.
Most of the online games I’ve played, such as Star Wars, City of Heroes and Wildstar released new mission content on a quarterly basis. Doing these types of releases keeps customers interested in the game and monthly subscription payments coming in, routinely. Without updated content, players would tire of playing the same content or gravitate to another game.
I guess you could say the same thing for the blogger who develops products for his followers. If you stop meeting the needs of fans, eventually they stop coming back to your blog or they find another guru to follow and learn what they need to know.
I have several products I need to create for my followers. I did a survey last year to find out what they need. I know what order they want them in too, so this becomes the priority order to release them.
But since these products are all courses, I know they will take longer to complete than a single PLR product I create for my store. Maybe this is why I’ve been dragging my feet on creating the releases for them? I should get busy creating a pipeline; do you agree?
Thank you for your insight, Craig. I appreciate you returning to answer my question. I will look forward to your blog post.
Enjoy your weekend!
– Bonnie
Thanks for this great post, Bonnie! I am actually working on some significant changes, and some of those include ramping up product development and improving my marketing. I recently asked a bunch of family and friends to help me by promoting tweets and blog posts; offered to make them pillows or bags in return for their help!
Hi Karen,
Are you family members and friends in the marketing circles? I wasn’t aware they were. That’s so cool!
What products are you selling online, Karen?
– Bonnie
Bonnie,
I recently saw a marketer who has a marketing plan for releasing products every 3 months. At first I thought, wow, that’s a lot of selling, but if we don’t sell something, we won’t make money. LOL
I think we all have things to overcome regarding our marketing strategies. Having a system in place that earns you money while you’re sleeping or laid up in the hospital is one of the most important lessons I learned last year.
I’ve been spending so much time trying to implement everyone else’s system of success that I haven’t taken the time to find what resonants with me and what it is that I really enjoy and want to wake up to each day.
My dream has always been to be an illustrator and I’ve decided that’s what I’m going to be. I might be 90 years old and drawing cartoons, but I’ll have made it. LOL
I’ve decided this year that I’ll focus more on graphics and helping others learn how to create them, which is what I really enjoy doing. I’m currently in the process of outlining my program. My goal is to have it completed and launched by July of this year. I have a ton of videos to make, but if I consistently whittle away at that huge list, I’ll be done with everything before I know it.
Growing our online businesses is a learning process that never ends, but ultimately we do have to do those things we don’t like in order to keep our business running even when we can’t.
I know you had a couple of projects in the works last year. One was the podcasting program and the other was your infographics and I think maybe something else. I hope you’ll tackle those this year and get them set up. We can start small. One product every six months until we’re cranking out products every three months.
Whatd’ya say? Think we can give it ago? Hope you’re feeling better friend.
Hi Cynthia,
I think releasing products every three months is doable. In fact, if you’re savvy like Tiffany Lambert, you could (and should) be producing new products on a weekly basis.
Sadly for most of us (including me), aren’t proficient enough to release weekly products, But we could release products monthly if we battened down the hatches and stayed on course.
Marketing strategies are what we make of them. I learned this year, thanks to coming down with pneumonia, that my systems weren’t as efficient as I presumed. With getting sick and being unable to be at my keyboard, my monetary system failed me.
I made money, but not nearly as much as I would have if I weren’t sick and bedridden. That’s when I had my eyes opened, and I realized that I needed to change how my marketing strategies needed to change.
You hit the nail on the head, Cynthia. Our system needs to resonate with us, and while Tiff’s system works for her, it’s not for everyone. We must remember that we can LEARN all we want from others, but we need to setup a system that fits our selling habits – not someone else.
By the way, there’s nothing wrong with being 90 years old and drawing cartoons. 🙂 As long as you’re doing what you love, and the money continues to add up, then you’re doing what you should be doing!
I’m with you girlfriend. It’s time we both settle down and do what we’re destined to achieve. There will be no excuses! I’m assuming by your absence all over the net that you’ve got your head to the grindstone.
Yes, I had several projects in the works last year, and that was the MAIN problem why I didn’t finish any of them! I was burning the candles at both ends and tired myself to the point where I despised working!
The blog suffered! My mailing list stopped mailing. My business stopped growing, too! Then, I got smart. I hired a coach. 🙂
I would love to see a change in me this year. Cranking out a new product within 6 months is doable for me, but I would love to see more throughout the year.
I’m with you, girl. We can do this together. Be accountable to each other if you like. Let me know, my friend!
– Bonnie
I love your article and this comment: The Definition of Insanity Is Doing the Same Things Repeatedly and Expecting Different Results.”
When we get sick, it can be like a 2×4 hitting us; such as the case with pneumonia… at least it was for me when I’ve gotten it. You raise great points about being able to move forward in our businesses. We must incorporate the right tools to move our business forward. I love aweber:-)
Hi Tandy,
So far, I’ve experienced double lung pneumonia, which put me in the hospital for two weeks, and then this latest bout with pneumonia, which I suffered through at home.
I dislike feeling ill and don’t wish to attract either version again. At the time I suffered the double lung variety; I was working for a print shop in Rochester, Michigan. It was a horrid illness, but what made it the worst was the fact that my corporate B.O.S.S. didn’t believe me.
He took it upon himself to contact the hospital when I reported off sick. I could feel my cheeks turn red from embarrassment. Several days later, he sent flowers, which I threw away, immediately. While I never brought it to his attention, I never forgot his disbelief.
However, you were talking about tools to use in our business. I agree with you, Tandy. Aweber is one of the best tools and I suggest more people to check it out for building a list.
Enjoy the rest of your week!
– Bonnie
Hi Bonnie,
sorry about your illness, but isn’t it interesting what a few days away from a computer will do. Obviously, in your case it proved very productive as it allowed you to regroup and re-evaluate.
Surely, I do not recommend an illness but is important for us to step back sometimes, take the time and rethink our objectives and goals. Then we can adjust what is not working and push on with what is producing results.
Your post made me realize that I am in the same boat as you are when it comes to automation. I too am not as proactive as I could be when it comes to my list. Your post “incentivized” me.
Thank you for your advice and for sharing your mistakes
Hi Dita,
I’m over the pneumonia now and feeling much better than I have in weeks. Thank you for sharing your kind thoughts.
Yes, I am grateful for being able to regroup my thoughts and figure out what has been wrong in my online business. Thankfully, I can not evaluate what I plan to do going forward.
I agree that it’s imperative that business owners take some time from their busy schedules to reevaluate where they want to go with their business. Nobody cares about your work more than you do, so do what is necessary to keep your business growing.
I hope my story helps you and others prepare a better future for your financial success. I aim to share my mistakes to help you learn from or, and even help you steer clear of making them too!
Have a great week and please stay in touch!
– Bonnie
Hi Bonnie 🙂
These business mistakes that you have outlined are totally right on! Thanks for sharing 🙂 We as marketers need to avoid them as much as possible!
Hi Joan,
It sounds to me like you’re doing a great job avoiding these mistakes. Nothing makes me happier than knowing you’re on the right path, living the success you’ve always dreamed of having.
How have you been since we last talked?
– Bonnie
Good to see you back in action, Bonnie
It’s so easy to make those mistakes – will be waiting to see how you put them into action so you don’t get caught short again! (But we don’t want you getting sick to test that what you’ve done works!)
Hi Tamsin,
Thank you! I’m on the mend and feeling stronger by the day!
Yes, mistakes in business are how we learn. I will make changes to my online business – thanks to pneumonia. But I don’t intend to get ill again just to make sure the changes made a difference. LOL
There’s always room for CHANGE in our businesses. The difference between growing as a leader or not is the ability to see what changes we need and then making them!
Enjoy the rest of your week!
– Bonnie
As we get older, we’re inclined to repeat the same behavior. Well-not me. But I see this in my husband all the time. The inability to change behavior leads to stagnancy. Thank you for reminding me.
Hi Francene,
My husband is the same way, Francene! You would think he would learn from his mistakes, but that’s not the case. His inability to change makes me mad, but it doesn’t seem to affect his behavior.
– Bonnie
Hi Bonnie,
Great post.
Regarding mistake #1, it’s so true. I’ve been twiddling my thumbs for a while now on a product I wanted to create, but I took some serious steps yesterday to get started. So I’m excited about it.
But automation is very important as well and I don’t have a product to automate, but if I did, there’ll be a series of timely emails going out to promote it … so if I do get sick, it’s not disrupted.
But your third point hits home. I’ve been doing the same thing for the past 7 months and I decided to change up the routine of how I produce content and tasks to accomplish in a day .. and I was amazed. It worked well. And I was thinking to myself, well this hasn’t been working for me, so let me try something else.
And that something else has been working wonders for me so far. So your advice on that is 100% correct.
Great post here.
– Andrew
Hi Andrew,
How are you doing since you read my post? You mentioned that you took some serious steps to get started creating a product. How is that working out for you? How long do you think it will be before the product is ready to share with the public?
Now that you’ve decided to create a product, may I suggest you get started on building your list? You want to start growing your list before your product is complete. (You need to get them excited about it before you launch it.) A list can help you do that!
What changes did you implement on your blog that are working for you now? You mentioned you did things the same way for seven months, but you changed how you were blogging. Can you share what you’re trying differently that seems to be working for you?
Thanks and enjoy your week!
– Bonnie
Hey Bonnie,
Well, I’m taking a different approach. I’m going to come out with a Kindle type product first, I think. I’m almost finished that.
Then, either by the end of the year or early next year, I’ll come out with my main product/course. But in between all that, I’m working on some stuff to release on Udemy.
Oh, I’m growing my list for sure. That’s a primary focus for me. And I’m split testing things as we speak to figure out what convert better and what to work on.
I can’t share that right now, but I’m working on a Case Study that I’ll reveal all that information. 🙂
– Andrew
Hi Andrew,
I started writing for Kindle, last year. I never finished it because it had to do with my past and an abusive life. One day I hope to finish it, but not right now. It doesn’t feel right to me.
How long before you’re ready to release a Udemy course? Why did you choose that platform to release a course?
I look forward to hearing more through your case study. Keep us posted!
Enjoy your week!
– Bonnie
Hello Bonnie and wow… there’s no easy way to say this but I failed on the three things you mentioned here already.
I did create and launch a formal information product but I failed to add follow ups to it, upsells, downsells, include more high ticket offers to those that needed them, etc.
Product launch was over, the buzz faded away and nobody is interested in anything about it anymore.
For automated marketing I’m thinking about pre-written email marketing campaigns and I did have those in place and did rather nice with them.
The problem was, the content got outdated and I was too lazy to update all the videos that were obsolete so what I did was, I simply pulled off the prewritten sequence and now that I don’t have anything like that, subscribers decreased a lot.
As a direct consequence from this, I hit a major bump so I decided to stop building a list for good and now I haven’t found the focus to get back to it.
As for the last point, I was a stubborn blogger for many years and never wanted to change my ways, now I know I should have changed a lot sooner but I just followed other’s people’s advice to wait for success… big wrong decision.
The cool thing about all of this, is that I’m fully aware of my mistakes and looking forward to make them good.
I’m way more experienced now and I’m quickly getting back to work on everything I did wrong in the past.
It’s a ton of work but it’s already giving positive results so I’m pretty sure it’ll be all worth it in the end!
Sergio Felix
Hi Sergio,
Don’t be too hard on yourself. Blogging is a model that allows you to experiment and change things on a moments notice.
After you launch a product, you should continue promoting it so that others who weren’t around when the initial launch took place will have a chance to purchase the product.
You can (and should) relaunch the product to new buyers. You can offer a special deal and not change a thing for the product, or you could add new pieces to it and launch it into a version 2. As long as the product is still relative to today, you should never stop promoting it.
Even though your email campaign became outdated, there’s no reason you can’t add new ones. In fact, you should. Only this time, add a sequence that remains evergreen, so there is no need to update your emails in the future.
There should NEVER be a reason to stop building your list. Former subscribers may come and go, but as long as you continue to advertise your email list, you should be able to add new people, continually.
Not having enough time to build a list is a poor excuse, Sergio. I think you know this already. Stop telling stories and get back in the game. You know it takes a sequence to make sales on autopilot so stop dragging your feet.
I’m happy to hear you’ve noticed your mistakes and are willing to change bad habits and turn them into good ones. Don’t ever listen to anyone that tells you to wait for success. You MUST take action if you want to succeed. It doesn’t fall into your lap, Sergio.
I like hearing that you’re getting back into the swing of things. You seem happy talking about your work. I’m relieved to learn that you aren’t listening to people who tell you to wait for success. Getting positive results already? That sounds wonderful! Do fill me in!
Enjoy the rest of your week!
– Bonnie
Hi Bonnie, so pleased you’ve recovered and got back up and running!
Oh I am in the “somewhat stubborn, lazy, AND complacent” camp you mentioned in a comment above. I know what I should be doing and why – and still hold myself back.
Why? Well you know me, it’s down to confidence.
You’ve come a long way since we first started chatting via comments etc – you are still very much an inspiration to me 🙂
Hi Jan,
I’m going to accept the fact that we all become complacent with our businesses. After we wake up and make changes, we realize how long we were sleep walking through our businesses.
And now that you’ve handed over the social media work to someone else, you can start to grow in other ways. I know you have what it takes to help people, even if you feel that you lack the confidence you need to move forward.
Sometimes we just need a little push in the right direction to see the trees through the forest. You think that you lack confidence, whereas I see a totally different person on the other end of the screen.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. I am honored to hear that I inspire you. You’ve inspired me many times. I just never voiced how much. (I love your accent too!)
Keep dreaming BIG. Have a great week, too!
– Bonnie
Hey Bonnie,
I can imagine what getting sick did to you taking you out of pocket and things come to a halt. I totally get that and I know in the past when I’ve gotten sick I’ve just gone MIA for awhile myself.
So I’ve done the first product but am eager to go back to my roots so to speak and hope to continue creating some products moving forward. Not sure exactly what my next step will be but I’ll start figuring that out soon enough. Surveying your list of course is the very first step indeed.
I’ve read several posts this week alone about people not willing to change things up. That’s why a lot of people fail and other complain that this “internet marketing thing” doesn’t work. Nothing ever stays the same so jump on that band wagon or go find something else to do.
Great advice here my dear and I totally get what you’re saying. Thanks for this message today and sure hope you’re completely on the mend now.
Have a good week.
~Adrienne
Hi Adrienne,
As I relayed to Kevin, it’s tough to admit that I didn’t automate my marketing strategies because I know better than to leave things like that unchecked.
In addition to my blog, I run a PLR store.
Unfortunately, I don’t have a VA that can assure a steady release of content for me when I am ill. I’ve been meaning to hire someone, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet.
I also did several surveys sometime ago and found out several products that my people want. I seriously need to change my schedule, so these products get into the hands of my customers.
I can attest that Internet marketing works, but it would work a lot better if this gal had all her ducks in a row. Anyone who states that you can’t make money online either hasn’t tried hard enough, or they know what to do but are failing to do it.
I feel much better today than I have in the past 14 days, so thank you! I’m getting stronger by the day, and my mojo will soon kick into high gear. 🙂
Enjoy your week!
– Bonnie
Hi Bonnie,
Great post! I use the “insanity” definition a lot. It’s amazing how many people (myself included) try the same things over and over. Sure, change is rarely easy (or fun). But sometimes it’s necessary!
I wonder how often “complacency” is the real issue. If someone is doing the same thing over and over, are they insane? Stubborn? Or just complacent? In my case, I think complacency may be the problem. (And that’s not a good thing.)
Appreciate the great post, Bonnie. Hope your week is off to a great start!
-Kevin
Hi Kevin,
For as long as I’ve been an online entrepreneur, it’s hard to admit that I am somewhat stubborn, lazy, AND complacent when it comes to my marketing strategies.
I love being at the keyboard, but I don’t pretend to LIKE the work either. 🙂 Reading a blog post so that I can comment, is much more satisfying to me than updating my Aweber autoresponder.
Additionally, throughout the years, I have been on so many marketing lists that I hate the idea of getting “marketing emails” and, therefore, hate the idea of sending them to my lists too!
Naturally, you can’t make much money if you’re not willing to “automate” promotional material. But I haven’t come to terms with being “OKAY” with sending a promotional email every week.
So yeah, I am a little “insane” because I tend to leave the emails to “whenever I feel like sending one.” I know I should send them on a timely basis because it would yield much more substantial results.
But this is where my laziness and stubbornness step in!
I am the type to send promotional materials from the keyboard, as I sit here, which explains the blog post. I suffered while I was bedridden with pneumonia, in a monetary sense. If I am unable to TYPE at the KB, I don’t make any profits, and I lose touch with my subscribers.
That’s got to change!
Enjoy the rest of your week!
– Bonnie